Pumaren denies role in La Salle case

Talk n Text coach Derick Pumaren yesterday denied his involvement in the La Salle eligibility case following reports of his supposed participation in the controversy that led to the suspension of the school from the UAAP early in the season.

In an excerpt of the report of the UAAP Fact Finding Committee issued back on April 17, 2006, Mark Benitez, one of the two members of the school’s men’s basketball squad who was found to have used spurious documents to gain entry to the team, stated that Bro. Bobby Casingal reportedly told him not to mention about Pumaren, then coach of the UE team, and UE assistant coach Jun Tiongco in the investigation.

"Parang pinasulat niya ko na kung ano yung mga ilalabas ko about…hindi na magbabanggit about kay (UE Asst. coach) Jun Tiongco at kay Derick Pumaren kasi daw po matataas daw yun…mahirap kalabanin," according to Benitez in an excerpt of the report which came out in Dong Puno’s column in The STAR yesterday.

But Pumaren, who is in Korea for a series of exhibition games as part of the Phone Pals buildup for the upcoming PBA season, maintained that he had nothing to do with the controversy.

"My conscience is clear. I don’t know what Benitez is talking about. I think Bro. Casingal should be asked for his comment since he is being quoted. I have nothing to do with what Benitez is claiming that Bro. Casingal has supposedly said," he said in an overseas talk with The STAR.

Bro. Casingal, FSC, is De la Salle’s director for sports development.

"I’ve never met Bro. Casingal. I’ve only heard of him as a consultant of the team during that time," said Pumaren. "As consultant, my job was only to evaluate talents whether they’re capable of playing in the UAAP or not. I’ve nothing to do with the players’ academic requirements, that’s not my line."

The Phone Pals, who left last weekend, end their four-game, five-day series on Friday and are set to be back Saturday. They have split their first two games, losing the opener to the South Korea Knights but winning the second game.

At the end of the season 68th of the UAAP, La Salle admitted that it inadvertently fielded in two ineligible players — Gatchalian and Benitez — during its championship run during the 2003-04 season. — Dante Navarro